adaptation for sundarban(mangrove forest) delta · sundarban’ mou was signed for conservation of...
TRANSCRIPT
Adaptation for Sundarban(Mangrove Forest) Delta
Malik Fida A. Khan Deputy Executive Director Center for Environment and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS)
Sixth Workshop on Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Transboundary Basins
Outline of Presentation
A. Settings of the Sundarban Delta
D. Landmark initiatives
B. Challenges
C. Impact of Climate Change
E. Joint initiatives and Way Forward
Largest contiguous blocks of fresh water mangrove forest in the world with very high species and unique biodiversity
A part of the GBM delta, spanning about 350 km width in Bangladesh and India
Assembled through deposition of silt transported by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers about 7000 yrs ago
It is about 8,500 sq km across India and Bangladesh, of which 60% lies in Bangladesh and 40% in India
Ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable region that is home to over 6.8 million people (2.3 million in Bangladesh and 4.5 million in India)
The Sundarban Delta
Ganges Basin Brahmaputra Basin
Meghna basin
Settings of Sundarban Delta
Ecosystem Shouldn’t have any Boundary!!
“Ecosystems can not be divided by the International Boundaries”
SRF = 5,467 km2 4 ranges
SRF = 5,467 km2 8 blocks
SRF = 5,467 km2 58 compartments 20 km
SIZ = 3,533 km2
With SRF = 9000 km2
10 km
ECR = 1,761 km2
With SRF = 7,228 km2 Core zone = 1,914 km2 Core zone = 1,914 km2 Buffer zone = 1,180 km2
Total = 3,094 km2
Administrative Management
Buffer zone = 1,180 km2
Core zone = 1,914 km2 Block zone = 4,400 km2
Total= 7.494 km2
Significance of the Sundarban Natural World Heritage Site from 1997 (UNESCO) and Ramsar
Site of International Importance since 1992
Three wildlife sanctuaries; Home of many globally significant but endangered species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, River Terrapin, Olive Ridley Turtle etc
Globally Important
Site
Rich of biodiversity in both the terrestrial and marine environment
Wide range of flora with more than 512 species including 334 plant, 165 algae
Rich in fauna with 693 species and The varied bird-life including 315 species of waterfowl, raptors and forest birds
Rich Biodiversity
Social and economical
vale
Dependency of millions of people for resource based livelihoods
Barrier against cyclones and storm surges saving lives and properties worth between 273-714 million US$
Efficient carbon sink
Major Issues and Challenges of Sundarban Increased intensity and frequency of cyclones and storm surges
Increased salinity intrusion due to reduction of freshwater flow and altered changes in flow due to interventions & siltation of river
Loss of connectivity of river system which are the contributor of freshwater flow to Sundarban
Over exploitation of resources due to dependency on Sundarban
Conflict over agricultural and shrimp culture
In migration of population particularly in India
Lack of basic facilities and livelihood opportunities around sundarban
Changes in the habitat condition
Impact of SLR on Sundari
Source: CEGIS, 2006
Landmark joint initiatives for Sundarban Delta A framework agreement was signed between two Prime
Ministers for initiation of basin level cooperation
Protocol on ‘Conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarban’
MoU was signed for Conservation of Sundarban and emphasize for common understanding of impacts of climate change along with adaptation strategies
Sustainable Development through improvement of the resilience of the ecosystem against CC
Sundarban Delta Vision 2050 to improve governance structure, increase fresh water availability, adaptation to CC
Consensus methodology and piloting for environmental flow assessment for Sundarban
Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative (BISRCI)
Both India and Bangladesh have explicitly stressed and made commitment in COP21 for joint action to protect the Sundarban and Bengal Tigers
Evidence based advocacy with Track-I level stakeholders for development of Bangladesh-India institutional platform for conservation and development of the Sundarban
Landscape narrative for assessment of changing dynamics and delineation of planning boundaries of Sundarban landscape to facilitate and support effective bilateral cooperation
Identification of risk and opportunities in landscape from climate change induced challenges
Way Forward Strategic Environmental Assessment should be undertaken before taking any adaptation measure due to complexity
Joint comprehensive adaptation measures should be taken considering alternative livelihood and basic facilities to avoid the dependency on Sundarban
Conservation of the forests for enhanced carbon sink (2.8 million ton/year) and provide protection to the embankments against storm surges and tidal erosion
In climate change scenario quantity and quality of water is important but timing of availability is more crucial
Equitable sharing of transboundary water should be allocated for basin countries and also for river ecosystem
Let there bring peace for them……
Thank You